Unit
Let It Grow: An Inquiry-Based Organic Gardening Research Project
Grades
6 - 8
Lesson Plan Type
Unit
Estimated Time
Nine 45-minute sessions
Author
Publisher
ILA
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- Standards |
- Resources & Preparation |
- Instructional Plan |
- Related Resources |
- Comments
Overview
Struggling readers at the middle school level often become frustrated with research projects because of their low literacy skills. However, they are often very creative, kinesthetic learners, and when a research project is scaffolded properly, they are able to work independently, think critically, and accomplish a finished product they can feel proud of. This project motivates students to learn about organic gardening by developing their own research questions, conducting research, and gardening at their school. They then create signs about their plants and present their research to the class so that other students can learn about each plant.
Featured Resources
Organic Gardening Research Project: Have your students use this helpful handout to track their research and observations and to prepare their oral presentations.
From Theory to Practice
- Inquiry-based projects differ from traditional research projects in that they encourage students to formulate more expansive questions that explore meaning and different ways the information gathered could be used.
- The focus on inquiry increases student involvement in the topic and encourages reading and writing.
- Teachers can select themes and topics for students to work with but it is important that they be broad and interest students.
- Underachieving students are especially well served by student-centered research projects when teachers take the time to encourage student interest, provide resources when they are needed, and give students time to share their findings with other students.
Common Core Standards
This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.
State Standards
This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.
NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts
- 1. Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
- 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
- 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
- 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
Materials and Technology
- Gardening books and encyclopedias
- Computers with Internet access
- Decorative and edible plant seeds
- An indoor or outdoor garden space
- Sifted compost or organic gardening soil
- Containers and tools for planting
- Sign-making materials
Printouts
Websites
Preparation
| 1. | Obtain enough seed packets so that there is at least one for each student in the class. You will want a mix of edible and decorative plants; organic seeds are preferable. You will also need sifted compost or organic gardening soil as well as tools for planting. A local gardening organization or nursery may be willing to donate all of these materials. |
| 2. | Create a classroom garden. You will need a sunny space, indoors or out, to plant the seeds in pots, containers, garden boxes, or directly into the ground. For edible plants, make sure there is no risk of heavy metals or lead paint in the soil and pick a place where refuse or animal feces are not deposited. If you will be using containers to hold the plants, set up a table where students can do their planting work. |
| 3. | If you need to, reserve time in your school's computer lab for research on the Internet. You will want at least three 45-minute sessions; these do not need to be on consecutive days. |
| 4. | Visit the websites listed in the Resources section and familiarize yourself with their contents. Many of these sites have excellent search tools that you can encourage your students to use. Some of them have links to other gardening sites that may or may not be appropriate for your class. Still others have areas that are intended for young gardeners. You may want to bookmark these sites on the classroom or lab computers that your students will use. |
| 5. | Assemble gardening books and encyclopedias that students can use for research. You can bring these from home or check them out of the library. |
| 6. | Gather materials that students can use to make signs: cardstock or other heavy paper, markers, scissors, glue, sticks, and tape. If you are able, arrange access to a laminating machine. |
| 7. | Make a copy of the Organic Gardening Research Project handout for each student in the class. |
Student Objectives
Students will
- Practice inquiry-based research in developing their own questions
- Practice acquiring knowledge using the Internet and books to learn about a specific plant
- Demonstrate comprehension by applying that knowledge directly to a growing plant and by presenting research to the entire class
- Synthesize information about the plant by designing and creating an educational sign to place in the garden next it
Session 1
| 1. | Introduce the topic of organic gardening. There are several ways you can do this. You might bring in some organic produce from a local farmer's market, your own yard, or an organic food store. You might ask a farmer, agriculture professor, or representative of a local gardening association to come and speak to the class. You want students to understand that organic produce and flowers are grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Ask students to define the word pesticide, working toward a definition along these lines: pesticides are chemicals that kill small bugs that eat the leaves, roots, stems, and fruit of plants. Explain that farmers use pesticides to help protect their plants, but unfortunately pesticides are known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other problems, both for people who eat the food and the farm workers who are in the fields when they are sprayed. Instead of using pesticides, some people grow food organically and find other, natural ways to get rid of bugs. |
| 2. | Encourage student discussion about organic gardening. The approach you have used to introduce the topic will help guide your line of questioning, but the idea is to access as many things as possible that students already know about organic versus traditional gardening and farming, what the pros and cons of organic gardening are, why they might choose to grow a plant organically, and how organic farming affects all of us. You might want to write down the things that students say on the board or on a large sheet of paper that you leave up for the duration of this unit. |
Session 2
Note: In between Sessions 1 and 2, choose one unanswered question or unresolved issue from your conversation in Session 1 and write three research questions designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of the subject. Strategies for developing questions include using questions stems such as:
- What are some possible solutions for the problem of _______?
- Why is _______ important?
- What would happen if _______?
Some concrete questions about the plant could work too, such as:
- How is _______ grown and cared for organically?
- How is _______ used in our culture and in other cultures?
- Where is _______ originally from? (Have a map on hand to show students).
You might also ask questions about organic gardening in other countries, the history of organic gardening, the costs of organic gardening, and how organic gardening is viewed by people in other professions (for example, supermarket owners, food manufacturers, or environmentalists).
| 1. | Tell students they will be doing an organic gardening project in which they will choose a flower or vegetable to plant and research, plant seeds in a class garden, observe and write about the plant's growth, document their research and observations on a sign to place by their growing plant, and present their findings to the class. |
| 2. | Model questioning techniques for students by referring back to your discussion in Session 1, sharing the questions you have developed, and talking about how you came up with them. You might also show students some print or Internet resources you have found that might help in answering the questions. |
| 3. | Talk to your students about developing their own research questions. Tell them that they want to look at their questions and ask, "Who cares?" when thinking about the answers. In other words, who could benefit from the information they find and how? They might find information that will help people to better understand organic versus traditional gardening methods. They might look at the way that their plant is raised and how that affects the workers who tend it, the community around it, or the land on which it is grown. Or they might look at what kinds of questions a chef, doctor, or pharmaceutical scientist might ask about their plant. |
| 4. | Have each student select a seed packet. You can either put several on each table and have groups of students decide how to distribute them, have students line up and pick one when it's their turn, or have students pick one out of a hat and exchange as they wish. |
| 5. | Pass out the Organic Gardening Research Project handout and give students time to read through the first two pages. Answer any questions they may have. |
Homework (due before Session 3): Fill out the first two pages of the handout.
Session 3
Note: You want to collect the homework, review it, and make notes to yourself and your students before you begin Session 3.
| 1. | Students should begin planting. Have them read the back of the packet for instructions. Make sure they don't plant the seeds too deep. Note: Since you will be working with a few students on their research questions while the rest of the class is working, you might want to have another adult help with the planting-maybe a volunteer with some gardening experience. |
| 2. | When students are done planting, they should fill out the "Day 1" portion of the Observation Log on page 6 of their Organic Gardening Research Project handout. |
| 3. | While the students are planting their seeds and filling out the handout, have brief meetings with individual students to go over their research questions. Your goal is to encourage students to move beyond literal details as you did in developing your research questions and as you discussed in Session 2. |
Sessions 4, 5, & 6
Note: As this unit progresses, you will want to remind students to fill out the Observation Log portion on page 6 of their Organic Gardening Research Project handouts.
| 1. | If you will be working in the computer lab, these sessions will take place there; make sure you also bring along the print materials you have assembled for students to use. Before students begin their research, you should demonstrate how to use the websites that you bookmarked and the books that you assembled, perhaps using your own research questions to do so. Another technique you may want to demonstrate is that students can type "growing [their plant name] in the home garden" into Yahoo! or Google to find resources. |
| 2. | Students should begin looking for answers to their research questions and filling out the handout. As students begin to work, touch base with any student you missed meeting with during Session 3 or those who might still need some help finalizing their questions. |
| 3. | While students are working, you can circulate and help them with their research or help them further refine their research questions. |
Sessions 7 and 8
| 1. | Students should have finished their research by Session 6. Tell them that they now need to make a sign for their plant and prepare an oral presentation for the class. Talk a little bit about what format the presentation should take and what students should include, such as:
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| 2. | Once you have outlined your expectations for the presentation, have students make rough drafts of their signs. Talk to them about the purpose of the signs, which is to teach others important information they learned from their research. When people come to the garden and see the signs, they will understand what organic gardening is, why it is an important movement, how they can grow certain plants, and what the plants are used for. |
| 3. | Ask the class who they think will be reading the signs. Have them brainstorm what they want these people to learn and understand when they come to the garden. This discussion can lead to the criteria students need to help them decide what to put on their signs, which might include:
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| 4. | Tell students to show you the drafts of their signs as they complete them. Provide students with appropriate feedback, helping them review their research if necessary to find additional or different information. |
| 5. | Once you have approved the signs, have students use heavy paper to make their final drafts (you might want to test the paper in the laminating machine first-if it's too thick, the machine may not accept it). Laminate the signs and give them back with two sticks. Have students tape the sticks to the back of the signs and place them by the growing plants. If their plants didn't grow, they can still place the sign somewhere in the garden. Signs can also be affixed to a nearby wall using nails or a chain-link fence using small pieces of wire. |
Homework (at the end of Session 8, due at the beginning of Session 9): Complete the Organic Gardening Research Project handouts and prepare oral presentations on their research.
Session 9
Have students give short presentations in which they show the class their plants and their signs and explain what they learned through their research and observation. Students should also turn in their Organic Gardening Research Project handouts.
Extensions
- Students can make a small book to document growth and changes in their plant using drawings and descriptions. Another project is to have students choose any wild plant or weed growing in or around the schoolyard and have them observe and document its growth and changes regularly. A good tool for either exercise is the Stapleless Book.
- Organize a party to show off the class garden to parents. Have each student bring some healthy (maybe even organic) food to share.
Student Assessment / Reflections
- Evaluate student ability to do inquiry-based research by reviewing their research questions. Do the questions show original, serious thinking on the part of the student? Will the answers help others learn about the plant and about organic gardening?
- Evaluate student work based on thoughtful completion of the worksheet, completed sign, and oral presentation. Among the things you should look for are:
- Was the work completed on time?
- Is the information on the handout accurate?
- Did the student use sources adequately?
- Did the student stay focused and ask for help when he or she needed it?
- Did the student make good choices when selecting information to include on the sign and in the presentation?
- Was the work completed on time?
- Tell students that cooperation with classmates will help their grade. Observe and take notes on how well students help each other throughout the project.
- Invite self-assessment by having students write a reflection on what they liked and didn't like about doing this kind of project.